Migratory Species Under Threat: A Global Assessment by the United Nations

Migratory species, the great explorers of the animal kingdom, play a crucial role in protecting the Earth’s habitats. They transfer nutrients, pollinate, and maintain woodlands. However, decades of exploitation have left many of these animals on the brink of extinction. A recent landmark UN report provides a comprehensive assessment of the numbers and health of these migratory species.

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), signed by many world nations over 40 years ago, aims to protect migratory species. The first global assessment of these animals has now been conducted, revealing alarming findings. Of the 1,189 species assessed, one in five are threatened with extinction. For some species, the situation is even more dire – 97% of fish listed under the convention are at risk.

Amy Fraenkel, the UN Executive Secretary to the convention, spoke to the BBC about the report’s findings. She emphasized the need to address the decline in migratory species, stating, “There has been a lack of attention for migratory species, and if we don’t succeed in turning this around, we will see extinction. There are species that are already on the edge.”

The report’s overwhelming conclusion is that the decline in migratory species is driven by human activity. Excessive hunting and killing of animals, habitat destruction, climate change, and the expansion of towns and cities bringing noise and light pollution are the primary threats. Ms. Fraenkel acknowledged that while some progress has been made in preventing the illegal trading of animals, less focus has been given to animals killed for sport, leisure, and food, and never traded.

Illegal killing is a significant issue, with an estimated 11 to 36 million birds illegally killed or taken annually in the Mediterranean region, and a few million more in the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, and Iraq. The report also highlights the challenges of protecting migratory species due to their migratory nature. Some species, like the Monarch Butterfly, travel thousands of miles over a dozen country borders.

The report recommends several actions to help protect migratory species. Countries should identify sites on the migration pathways of the most at-risk animals and establish key biodiversity areas. Infrastructure impacting migration pathways, such as dams, should be reduced. Creating corridors of protected land and ensuring 30% of degraded land and marine areas are restored are also crucial steps.

Mapping migration corridors is essential to protect animals from human activities. One of the biggest threats facing sharks and rays is being incidentally fished as bycatch. Satellite imagery has revealed that there is extensive overlap between the areas used by migrating sharks and those frequented by global fishing fleets.

Despite the concerning findings, Inger Andersen, the executive director of the UN Environment Programme, remains optimistic. She pointed to the success stories, such as the South Atlantic population of Humpback Whales, which numbered just 450 in the mid-1950s after being extensively hunted. Following the introduction of protections, their population has now grown to over 25,000.

Dr. Rob Cooke, an ecological modeller at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, welcomed the report but emphasized the need to improve efforts to assess and protect insect populations. Only one insect is currently listed under the CMS. Insect populations are difficult to measure due to their small frames and the fact that they cannot wear trackers or be easily seen in large numbers like birds.

On January 30, 2024, government officials began gathering in Uzbekistan to develop a coordinated plan in response to this research. The report’s findings serve as a call to action for governments, organizations, and individuals to work together to protect migratory species and ensure their survival for future generations.

In conclusion, the UN report on migratory species highlights the urgent need to address the threats facing these animals and take action to protect them. Human activities, including excessive hunting, habitat destruction, climate change, and expansion of towns and cities, are the primary drivers of the decline in migratory species. The report’s recommendations, including identifying key biodiversity areas, reducing infrastructure impact, creating corridors of protected land, and restoring degraded areas, offer a path forward to help protect these essential explorers of the animal kingdom.